Joel Stiff's Adventure

The internet making connectivity so easy has turned everyone into their own personal marketing department.

We blog, tweet, post and share our lives in very narcissistic ways. It is about shining the spotlight on us.

We increase the frequency and polish of our online existence as though we are on stage. Everyone is looking at us or at least we think they are. Or at least we want them to.

What is really happening online is that although everyone has a voice, there are very narrow listening audiences.

I haven’t googled it, but I’m sure there is a group out there somewhere that enjoys watching GI Joe reruns while eating strawberry pop tarts and dressed in bird costumes. Things are getting very narrow.

As this is happening, I see people screaming louder and louder to get attention. They are disfiguring their bodies, using the most shocking language available or simply behaving as an animal to garner more likes, clicks, viewers or shares.

A better tactic might be talking in a normal voice to those who really want to listen.

Get back on

I’ve been encountering a lot of it lately.

Two guys followed me into my yard threatening to beat me until, strangely enough, the elder hugged me.

The other day I accidentally cut a guy off who was completely in my blind spot. He responded by whizzing around me and gesturing wildly out his window.

Sunday, a truck raced up on me and when I didn’t speed up, cut across my right side, cut me off and then began to scream and wave his arms around as we sat at the light together.

I’m not sure what was going on in these guy’s lives to make them so unhappy.

Certainly, it isn’t that they are so self absorbed that they believe the road belongs to them and anyone else must vacate the space to let them pass.

Could it be stress that has them left with such a short fuse?

My advice? If you can’t drive to the store without your blood pressure going through the roof, you should go fishing for a couple days.

Bomb shelters in the 50’s

Thermonuclear war with Russia in the 80’s

Y2K complete computer and technological breakdown 12:00 AM, January 1, 2000

SARS in 2002, 2003

Swine flu in 2009

Ebola in 2014

You know, the sky never falls and if it ever does, there won’t be anything you can do to stop it.

This is not my story, but one I read recently. Reposted as written.

“Blew the engine on my truck so I’m taking the bus. Came to a stop and the driver picked up some people but here is a young guy with his young daughter about 7 or 8. He was blind and you can tell he was new to this. She got on first and it was crowded. He didn’t even knew how to use the money or card thingy. When he finished that ordeal he called out “Madie Madie” and she said over here dad. She helped him sit down and stood in front of him. When I saw this it really brought tears to my eyes in front of all these people. I’ve seen all kind of things in my life but to see that just broke me up knowing and seeing the heart, loving care for her dad.”

No matter what you are trying to do with your life, make sure that caring for the people God has given you ranks up top.

Spending time alone with God will change you.

The only way you will ever change is if you spend time alone with God.

We are all aware of the difficulties some of our children and even adults have with autism, ADD and ADHD.

While thinking and praying for some of our families and considering the difficulties they face, I also understood that the same troubles that plague the ADD world also hurt Christians.

Three areas where we can be ADHD in our relationship with the Lord:

1. An inability to focus.

Matthew 6 speaks of not being earthly minded, but heavenly minded. We are to be focused on the eternal and not the temporal. Satan continually tries to attract our attention away from the Lord with the attachments of this world. We must remain focused on Jesus.

2. Overactive behavior.

Christians are busier than ever, but much of what occupies our time has nothing to do with the Lord. Our schedules are filled with work, social events, athletics and maintaining lifestyles, but when approached about serving the Lord, we can struggle to find time. The Bible says that in the last days, Satan would wear out the saints. He is definitely doing that by keeping us engaged in pursuits that aren’t necessarily sinful, but leave us little time for Jesus.

3. Inability to control behavior.

We all struggle with sin in our lives. Sometimes that sin takes up our time and resources to serve God. Other times we feel that because of it, God cannot or will not use us. Confess, repent and submit to what God has for you. You will battle sin daily. Do not let it keep you from serving God. Just men fall seven times, but always get back up.

We have a party to go to today.

Our niece, Aubriella, is celebrating her second birthday. Family and friends will all gather. Food and drink will be consumed. Conversation will be had and memories will be relived.

It will be refreshing for all who attend.

Of course, not all who are invited to a party will attend.

Sometimes they have other things to do. Sometimes they fall ill. But sometimes they just don’t want to go.

Often these are the same people whose spirits are frequently down or who feel that no one cares about them. These are also the same people who complain that their particular group of friends doesn’t do enough together. Oh, we’ve been getting together a lot, you just haven’t shown up for it.

The next time you’re invited to a party, go and have a good time.

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine.

We threw a party tonight.

Had dozens of people over, ate good food, enjoyed some good drink, had some good entertainment.

We just relaxed, talked and celebrated.

The Bible encourages parties.

It uses the word “feast”.

It is biblical to throw parties.

Some days are stone.

Sometimes it doesn’t matter what you do or don’t do.

It’s going to turn out that way no matter what.